Lasting Legacy of Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton, the queen of country music, shaped the music industry. Her evergreen hits like “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” and “Coat of Many Colors” have enthralled audiences for decades. Parton is a music icon due to her songs and singing.
She wrote and recorded the original version of “I Will Always Love You,” appeared on cinema, wrote books, and became a famous businesswoman and humanitarian.
Dolly Parton, who was ‘dirt poor’ and never saw a bathroom until she was eight, now regularly donates to organizations.
Poverty Shaped Childhood
Born in Tennessee on January 19, 1946, Dolly Parton grew up poor. Poverty hit her as the fourth of twelve children. Her Welsh mother told stories and ballads to her illiterate sharecropper father. Parton’s parents fed, housed, and clothed their children despite financial hardship. Parton cherishes her childhood:
Learning Life’s Essentials
Due to limited space in their one-room cabin near the Little Pigeon River, the Parton family spent most of their time outside. Parton shockingly claimed that she didn’t see a toilet till she was eight years old at her aunt’s house. She considered using it but worried it would “suck them right down.” They manufactured their own soap and washed once a week in winter, Parton said. But in high school, she had to wash daily since she and her siblings slept together and “the kids peed on me every night.”
Family Influence and Career Success
Parton credits her family for her achievement despite her struggles. They have always been her greatest love and influenced her music. Her songs and performances reflect her familial love.
Like her $375 million net worth, Dolly Parton is kind. The Dollywood Foundation, founded in 1988, first gave scholarships to her high school classmates. The fund eventually helped kids from other schools and outstanding teachers. Founded in 1995 to honor Parton’s father, the Imagination Library is a highlight. It started in Tennessee and today delivers 1.3 million books to over two million children per month in all 50 states. After the project delivered 100 million books in 2018, Parton said she never expected its success.
Kindness in Hard Times
Dolly Parton has donated and raised monies for the needy during rough times. Her 2016 My People Fund raised almost $9 million for 900 families affected by the Great Smoky Mountains wildfires. She donated to Vanderbilt University Medical Center when her niece beat leukemia.
Parton’s charity goes beyond these. She has supported the American Red Cross, HIV/AIDS charities, and animal rights groups. She became a prominent champion for Covid vaccines in 2020, and her $1 million donation helped produce Moderna.
Being Generous
Dolly Parton’s kindness is heartfelt. She is hooked to giving and enjoys helping others. Her background shapes her community service. Parton’s rise from poverty to success made her kind and giving.
Your thoughts on Dolly Parton’s generosity? Do you think her background affects her philanthropy? Share your views and promote this amazing woman’s charity.
“We were poor, but I never felt poor. We always had enough food, shelter, and clothes. Mama and Daddy would point out our inferiors. Nothing felt strange to me. Only when you remember eating beans and cornbread, sharing beds, using newspaper for insulation, and using an outhouse do you realize we were poor.”
